SNAP in Tennessee: Income Limits, EBT Payment Dates and How to Apply
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SNAP in Tennessee pays for groceries through the Tennessee EBT Card. From October 1, 2026 the gross income limit is $1,729 a month for one person and $3,575 for four, the maximum benefit for a family of four is $1,023, and benefits land on the 1st through the 20th. Every figure on this page is from USDA's FY2027 cost-of-living memo or Tennessee's own SNAP pages, dated 2026-09-23.
| Program name | SNAP |
|---|---|
| EBT card | Tennessee EBT Card |
| Apply | onedhs.tn.gov/csp · 833-772-8347 |
| EBT card line | 888-997-9444 |
| Gross income test | 130% of poverty |
| Asset test | $3,000, or $4,750 with an elderly or disabled member |
| Payment dates | 1st to 20th, by the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number |
Income limits in Tennessee from October 1, 2026
Tennessee is one of seven states that do not use broad-based categorical eligibility. That means the standard federal test applies in full: gross income at or below 130% of the poverty guideline, net income at or below 100% after deductions, and applies the federal asset limit: $3,000 for most households and $4,750 when a member is 60 or older or disabled.
| Household size | Gross monthly limit (130%) | Net monthly limit (100%) | Maximum benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $306 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $562 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $808 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
| Each additional | +$616 | +$474 | +$225 |
FY2027, October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027. Income limits computed from the 2026 HHS poverty guideline the way USDA computes them. Households with a member who is 60 or older or disabled skip the gross test and face only the net test.
Net income in Tennessee is figured after the $217 standard deduction for households of one to three, 20% of earnings, dependent care, and shelter costs capped at $769; the SNAP benefits guide walks through the arithmetic.
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee is one of seven states with no broad-based categorical eligibility at all, so it keeps both the 130% gross test and the $3,000 asset limit; 36 states and DC test gross income at 160% to 200%. Payments are spread over 20 days of the month, one of the longer windows; a household near the end of the alphabet or case-number range waits almost three weeks past the 1st. On accuracy, Tennessee ranked 25 of 51 in FY2025 (1 is the lowest error rate).
When Tennessee loads benefits
Per USDA's issuance schedule, Tennessee pays on the 1st to 20th, by the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number. Benefits post overnight and are spendable the next morning; unused benefits roll over month to month but are removed after nine months without use. USDA's published schedule has not been refreshed since 2021, so if a date matters, confirm it at www.tn.gov.
How to apply in Tennessee
- Apply online at onedhs.tn.gov/csp, or call 833-772-8347. Paper and in-person applications also work; the date the office receives any signed application with your name and address is the date your benefits start from.
- Under $150 in monthly income and $100 or less in the bank, or income plus cash below rent and utilities? Say expedited; 7 CFR 273.2(i) requires benefits within seven days.
- Do the phone interview, send proof, and set a PIN on the Tennessee EBT Card when it arrives.
Card problems, balances and PIN changes: 888-997-9444. A SNAP case also qualifies you for a free Lifeline phone; the carriers serving Tennessee are ranked on our Tennessee phone guide, and the paperwork is on free phone with food stamps.
Tennessee specifics
- Tennessee promotes the ebtEdge app's card-freeze feature against skimming.
- Tennessee's SNAP payment error rate for FY2025 was 9.44% against a national 10.62%. Under the 2025 law, a rate in that band would put Tennessee in the 10% cost-share tier when states start paying a share of benefits from October 2027. That is a budget question for the state, not a change to your eligibility, but it is why several states are tightening verification now.
- Local offices serve Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and every county; the state phone line above routes you to yours.
The 2025 federal law's changes, from the age-64 time limit to the end of the internet deduction, apply in Tennessee as everywhere and are listed on the SNAP benefits guide. Health coverage for the same household is on the Tennessee Medicaid page.
Common questions
What is the SNAP income limit in Tennessee in 2026-27?
From October 1, 2026, $1,729 a month gross for one person and $3,575 for a household of four, which is 130% of the federal poverty guideline. Net income after deductions must also be at or below 100% of poverty: $1,330 for one person and $2,750 for four.
How much does SNAP pay in Tennessee?
Up to $306 a month for one person and $1,023 for four in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027); minimum $25 for one or two people.
When are SNAP benefits deposited in Tennessee?
1st to 20th, by the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number, per USDA's schedule, onto the Tennessee EBT Card.
What is the Tennessee EBT card called, and who do I call about it?
The Tennessee EBT Card; card problems go to 888-997-9444 and case questions to 833-772-8347.
Sources
- USDA FNS: FY2027 SNAP cost-of-living adjustments
- Tennessee SNAP program page
- USDA FNS: SNAP state directory
- USDA FNS: monthly issuance schedule
- USDA FNS: broad-based categorical eligibility chart (June 2026)
- USDA FNS: FY2025 payment error rates
Gov-Grants.org is an independent guide, not a carrier and not a government agency. We never charge fees, and every fact above links to its source with the date we checked it. Program details change; confirm on the official site before applying.